Eight speaking factors forward of the Premier League weekend, that includes Eddie Nketiah, Liverpool’s want for rotation, and Matheus Cunha’s pricey purple card.
Can Metropolis break by means of the Forest?
Although emphatic defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool had been a reminder of their faults, Manchester Metropolis have overseen a gentle upturn because the flip of the 12 months. Solely these two groups have accrued extra factors than the champions in 2025, whereas no facet has scored extra targets.
Metropolis make the journey to shock bundle Nottingham Forest this weekend. The latter are forward of Pep Guardiola’s facet within the desk and sat within the dizzying heights of third. Forest below Nuno Espirito Santo are a troublesome nut to crack and a visit to the Metropolis Floor poses an actual check of Metropolis’s new-look entrance pairing of Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush.
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Forest boast the joint-best defensive report within the Premier League on dwelling soil (10) and held Arsenal goalless final trip.
Nketiah set for Palace probability
When Eddie Nketiah discovered the web as a late substitute in opposition to Aston Villa final month, the response of his Crystal Palace teammates was telling. Mobbed at Selhurst Park, it was a high quality second for a participant whose time with the membership has been tough.
Signed from Arsenal in a £30m deal final summer time, the switch was designed to provide Nketiah the common video games that weren’t forthcoming on the Emirates. It has not been the case. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s evolution right into a prolific presence has meant Nketiah has been consigned to a supporting function. Makes an attempt to play each did not work out as Palace struggled for early season type.
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That is such a particular group.
Nketiah got here off the bench to attain once more in opposition to Millwall final week after Mateta suffered a nasty head harm. The Frenchman is unlikely to be permitted to play this weekend, handing Nketiah one other probability to impress. With back-to-back video games in opposition to struggling Ipswich and Southampton, it’s an opportunity for the summer time signing to search out his confidence.
Slot can afford Reds rotation
Liverpool’s torpid efficiency at Paris Saint-Germain was a priority regardless of Harvey Elliot’s purpose incomes the Reds a smash-and-grab win. Second finest all through in Paris, their show has sparked fears of potential burnout.
Nevertheless, the fixture checklist has been type to Arne Slot. Backside-of-the-table Southampton arrive at Anfield this weekend, nonetheless wanting the required 11 factors wanted to keep away from turning into, formally, the worst facet in Premier League historical past. Given Liverpool’s wholesome lead and the latest type of their opposition, it seems a great alternative to rotate.
Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch want a breather, whereas Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai lacked their regular spark in France. After spectacular introductions from the bench at PSG, Elliott, Wataru Endo, Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones are all prepared to come back into the facet.
Will Watkins hang-out outdated facet once more?
Brentford may be happy with their function in Ollie Watkins’ improvement. Plucked from Exeter Metropolis, he was named Championship Participant of the Yr within the ultimate of his three campaigns earlier than a club-record transfer to Aston Villa.
Since then, Watkins has advanced into one of many Premier League’s most full frontmen. He’s closing in on a century of Aston Villa targets and led the division for assists in 2023/24.
Brentford, nonetheless, won’t be delighted to see their former favorite this weekend. Watkins has definitely loved their reunions greater than the Bees. He has 5 targets and an help in six video games in opposition to the West Londoners within the Premier League.
How will Wolves cope with out Cunha?
Wolves are nonetheless wanting over their shoulder regardless of a five-point cushion between themselves and the underside three. It’s been a troublesome season for Wolves, although Matheus Cunha’s performances have been the silver lining. The Brazilian has 13 targets and 4 assists this season, netting 35.1% of Wolves’ league targets. Cunha’s second of insanity within the FA Cup exit to Bournemouth leaves Wolves with out their talisman for 3 video games. His purple card for lashing out repeatedly at Milos Kerkez is an enormous blow, notably given their upcoming schedule.
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Sixteenth-place Everton are the guests this weekend, earlier than clashes with Southampton (twentieth) and West Ham (fifteenth). Cunha’s absence for video games in opposition to groups in and round Wolves could possibly be pricey.
Maresca can push Foxes nearer to lure door
Enzo Maresca departed Leicester final summer time having led the Foxes again into the Premier League. His sole season on the King Energy was successful, resulting in curiosity from Chelsea.
Whereas Maresca has overseen regular enchancment at Chelsea, his former facet have toiled since his exit. The Italian’s alternative, Steve Cooper, was unpopular and unsuccessful, sacked after simply 5 months in cost. In got here Ruud van Nistelrooy after an attention grabbing interim spell at Manchester United however the Dutchman’s tenure has been a catastrophe thus far.
Leicester have misplaced 11 of their final 12 within the Premier League and regarded like a staff consigned to relegation in defeat at West Ham final week. Maresca, regrettably, can push them nearer to the Championship this weekend.
Time for Tel to search out his ft
It was a depressing evening for Tottenham in Alkmaar on Thursday, because the North Londoners misplaced the primary leg of their Europa League last-16 tie. Spurs had been lucky to move dwelling trailing solely 1-0, following a meek efficiency that noticed their solely effort on the right track recorded within the 87th minute.
Ange Postecoglou’s issues piled up after Dominic Solanke limped off injured. Making his first look since January as an alternative, the club-record signing pulled up and was compelled off. With Richarlison additionally out, the onus is on Mathys Tel to steer the road.
The 19-year-old has had an underwhelming begin since Spurs received a aggressive race for his signature in January. Tel has scored simply as soon as in 868 minutes of motion for Bayern Munich and Spurs this season, a late comfort within the latter’s FA Cup exit to Aston Villa.
Forward of an enormous week within the membership’s season, it’s time for Tel to search out his ft.
Arsenal set-pieces cause for worry at Outdated Trafford
Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup final weekend after the holders misplaced on penalties to Fulham at Outdated Trafford. It was a well-known flaw that uncovered the Pink Devils in regular time, as Calvin Bassey arrived unmarked to show in a set piece.
Set items have been problematic all season. Within the Premier League, solely Wolves (17) and Southampton (16) have conceded greater than Manchester United’s (12) set items this season, excluding penalties.
This weekend the Pink Devils tackle an Arsenal facet who’ve grow to be masters of the lifeless ball. The Gunners have scored 45 Premier League targets from such conditions because the begin of 2022/23 marketing campaign. Amorim’s organisation must be on level this weekend.
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